The 2nd Fairbreak invitational tournament is due to start on Monday 3 April at the Kowloon Cricket Club in Hong Kong. But what is Fairbreak some of you may be asking?
It is so much more than just cricket. Founded in 2013 under the name Women’s International Cricket League (WICL), by Shaun Martyn and former Australian vice-captain, and now leading commentator Lisa Sthalekar, the movement is better articulated by their mission statement below.
Our mission is to progress gender equality on a truly global scale, using cricket as our primary vehicle.
In doing so, we aim to create a FairBreak i.e., create opportunities across sport, health, business, media, arts and education to empower women to pursue success in their chosen endeavour.
These quotes from two Fairbreakers give you some idea of what it means to the players.
“I think its empowering women. It’s a strong part of me now” said Ariana Dowse (England)
“I feel very privileged. The opportunity to play alongside the Test nations, that is not only an amazing experience but so good for personal development. We can take away the learnings that we have on tour and bring it back to the home country” said Hong Kong’s Ruchi Venkatesh.
Ariana (Tornadoes), and Ruchi (Barmy Army) are all set to play in Fairbreak Invitational 2023.
Shaun has been the driving force of FairBreak since its inception and he has met considerable hurdles along the way. FairBreak’s first major breakthrough came in 2018 when a FairBreak XI played against the Sir Paul Getty’s Women’s XI at the Wormsley estate but what really put it on the map was the FairBreak Invitational 2022 in Dubai.
The map is a significant place to start, as all players who play as part of the FairBreak banner have their own national flag on the back of their shirts.
“It was something really special to me to wear my countries flag on my shirt. It means so much to me to represent my country in a league like this” said Winnie Duraisingam from Malaysian. Winnie, whose photograph features on the front cover of FairBreak, the book by Karen Motyka is returning to the Invitational tournament to play for the Tornadoes in April.
Ninety of the world’s best female cricketers from thirty-five nations lined up for the inaugural FairBreak T20 event. The Barmy Army team, The Falcons, The Sapphires, The Spirit, The Tornadoes and The Warriors included an array of international stars and leading associate nation players. The mixture of nations is the blend which makes FairBreak so special and unique. No other sports event apart from the Olympics has brought together athletes from so many nations at one venue.
The Tornadoes led by West Indian International Stefanie Taylor beat the Falcons led by New Zealand star Suzie Bates by 8 wickets with 5 balls to spare. The winning side featured nine different nationalities.
Since the Dubai Invitational event the FairBreak XI have been on tour to England, Scotland and the Netherlands in the summer of 2022 and recently to Australia where they played three matches against a strong ACT Meteors side in Canberra.
And in the Bradman Room at the Manuka Oval on February 4 2023, Karen Motyka held a book launch for FairBreak, the book. The book tells the complete story from its inception. If you love cricket, you will love reading Fairbreak. My highlights are the reflections by former aussie legend Geoff Lawson, a FairBreak coach on their 2022 summer tour and a thank you letter from French International Poppy McGeown. Poppy’s piece encapsulates what Fairbreak is all about. A must read on Pages 305-308.
I had the pleasure of chatting to Karen Motyka about her book in Episode 183 of my podcast.
I was lucky to see a FairBreak XI in action at the heavenly Wormsley ground on a hot summer’s day last year, where I had the pleasure of meeting Roberta Moretti Avery, captain of the Brazilian women’s team. Roberta is an inspiration. Infectious on the field, you soon hear her voice booming out across the outfield encouraging the FairBreakers while off the field she actively promotes the women’s game across the world. With two dogs, called Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad no more needs to be said about her love of the game.
Many readers won’t be aware that the Brazilian women’s’ team are a fully professional side who are currently ranked 32nd in the world.
FairBreak 2023 in Hong Kong is due to get under way on Monday 3 April with a game between a FairBreak All-star XI against The Hong Kong Divas. The latter are a female cricket team exclusively for Filipino Domestic Helpers in Hong Kong. The Divas only get one day off a week and choose to spend it playing cricket.
The above match is followed by a repeat of last year’ final, the Tornadoes against the Falcons.
As in 2022 the competition is littered with world famous stars, who will be playing alongside the leading Associate players. Hayley Matthews, Women’s Premier League title winner, Marizanne Kapp, Laura Wolvaardt & Shabnim Ismail from the South African T20 World Cup Final side, England captain Heather Knight, Sophie Ecclestone, the world’s best T20 bowler and both Sciver-Brunt’s, Nat and Katherine to name just a few. They will all be playing alongside associate nation players from across the globe; Argentina, Bhutan, Germany, Japan, Nepal, Sweden, Thailand, that’s the magic of FairBreak.
ICC Associate player of the year Esha Oza from the UAE cannot wait to get started. “FairBreak Invitational 2022 was all about learnings, experiences, exposure and raw emotions! I can’t wait to relive all of that again! Look out for players from associate teams! I can guarantee they’re gonna stun you with their performances”.
Who will win this year’s event? I am going to stick my neck out and predict the Warriors. Any team containing the in form all-rounders Nat Sciver-Brunt and Hayley Matthews, the bowling of Scotland’s Kathryn Bryce and the ICC Associate cricketer of the year Esha Oza from the UEA will take a lot of beating.
But the real winner will be women’s cricket. Thanks to FairBreak.
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Photos courtesy of Esha Oza